The Guide to PID tuning

Accomplish optimized plant performance with the PID Tuning guide

In an industrial plant, tuning PID loops is a time-consuming and difficult job. To achieve optimal results, it’s essential to prevent the PID loops to oscillate or have undesired overshoot. However, finding the ideal set of parameters for each specific situation is almost an art — it requires experience. There are many different methods to tune your PID loops; trial and error, Ziegler-Nichols, Cohen-Coon, or model-based PID tuning with PID tuning software. If you focus on understanding the PID tuning process instead of just using your gut-feeling, you provide more added value to your plant operations. Learn everything you need to know in this PID tuning Guide.

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What is PID tuning?

Screenshot AptiTune. Optimized plant performance with PID Tuning

In many industries, PIDs are the most widely used feedback controllers. Finding the right P, I and D parameters enables optimal performance.

On this page you’ll read about:

  • The definition of PID tuning.
  • How to reach an optimal PID tuning based on process behavior and engineering specifications.
  • The benefits of PID tuning.
DCS screen

PID tuning parameters

When PID parameters aren’t tuned correctly, your control loop can show undesired oscillations and/or overshoot. Therefore, it’s vital to choose the right set of PID parameters to achieve optimal plant performance.

On this page you’ll read about:

  • An explanation of the Proportional action (P).
  • The effect of the Integral action (I).
  • The benefits and risks of the Derivative action (D).
the 3 PID variables. Optimized plant performance with PID Tuning

Tune your loops!

In this whitepaper, you’ll learn:

  • What PID loops are
  • What happens if you don’t look after PID tuning
  • How to accomplish optimized plant performance with PID Tuning
  • What the steps are to systematically approach PID tuning.

PID tuning methods

The concept of PID tuning might be simple, but the underpinning PID control mathematics are complex. There are three main approaches, each with various tuning methods providing different results.

On this page you’ll read about:

  • The three approaches on how to tune the PID control loop.
  • Heuristic PID tuning.
  • Rule-based PID tuning.
  • Model-based PID tuning.
Don't guess. Optimized plant performance with PID Tuning

PID tuning example

What’s the best way to tune PID loops? We give an in-depth explanation of all the benefits and limitations of heuristic, rule-based, model-based PID tuning based on a common example.

On this page you’ll read about:

  • Heuristic PID tuning in practice.
  • Rule-based PID Tuning in practice.
  • Model-based PID Tuning in practice.
Comparing PID Tuning

PID tuning software

The ultimate goal is to set the PID parameters right the first time. This is nearly impossible without PID tuning software. Tuning software allows you to specify your engineering objectives to obtain the perfect PID control-loop.

On this page you’ll read about:

  • Why model-based tuning is perfect for PID tuning.
  • Explanation of PID tuning software.
  • The benefits of using the tuning software from INCATools.
Screenshot PID tuning software. Optimized plant performance with PID Tuning

The Guide to PID Tuning

Learn in this ebook:

  • The explanation of optimal PID tuning
  • Finding the right parameters for the PID control loop
  • The ideal methods to apply PID tuning
  • Examples or PID tuning in practise
  • Why PID tuning is nearly impossible without PID tuning software
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Talk to one of our experts and get advice on:

  • How PID tuning helps you to reduce alarms and manual operations
  • A first-time-right approach becomes possible when using the right tools
  • How to maximize value from PID tuning software.

Do you want to learn how to achieve an optimal plant performance without undesired oscillation or overshoot?

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